The F.I.R.S.T. Foundation would like to warmly welcome
you to the 2007 Young Pacific Leaders Conference being held in Auckland on Thursday
8th and Friday 9th March 2007.

Within the space of one or two
generations, the population of Pacific people in New Zealand has grown and undergone a very rapid transformation from isolated agrarian,
subsistence-level communities in the island Pacific to a predominantly urban,
wage-based society not fully integrated into national life, with a significant
proportion of its membership not fully connected to their ancestral roots and
with a sense of marginalisation from wider Pakeha-led society.

That these
social, economic and cultural issues will resolve themselves without planning
and direct intervention is unlikely.

F.I.R.S.T. and its
Pasifika partners; Waiata Artists Trust, Pacific Business Trust and NiuFM, made
the inaugural YPLC2006 at Parliament a reality.

Stimulated by their
participation, participants have formed action groups in Auckland, Wellington
and Christchurch to tackle issues of Pasifika leadership. That's a great
conference outcome, stepping forward and up to leadership development.

This is YOUR
OPPORTUNITY to come together with other young Pacific leaders, where you will be
encouraged and inspired to discuss common issues you face. Such discussions will not only promote understanding necessary to a
solution, but also establish personal contacts between Pacific communities and
in varied socio-economic circumstances to facilitate EVEN MORE cooperation towards future effective action.

The proposed YPLC, by promoting
leadership skills amongst young people and encouraging the inter-generational
transfer of leadership skills, will by its very nature, address many of the
issues associated with community capacity building, a major programme in the
Government's pacific and ethnic affairs policies.